Apparatus for processing yarn



J1me 1966 c. J. DUDZIK ETAL 3,257,790

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING YARN Filed Jan. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS CHESTER J. DUDZIK in RICHARD G. HILBERT BY GUY E. ERKINS M W6. W1

ATTORNEY8 June 28, 1966 c. J. DUDZIK ETAL 3,257,790

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING YARN Filed Jan. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CHESTER J. DUDZIK RICHARD G. HILBERT ATTORNEYS 3,257,790 APPARATUS FUR PROCESSENG YARN Chester J. Dudzik, Warwick, Richard G. Hilbert, Esinond,

and Guy E. Perkins, Warwick, RJL, assignors to Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.l., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,369 14 Claims. (Cl. 57-35) A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for producing commercially acceptable natural fiber yarns of the textured types described characterized by their lengthwise uniformity and having a uniform set in which the individual fibers of the yarn exhibit a permanent inherent tendency to assume a formation conforming to the configuration of the permanent set of the fibers.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for producing textured yarns from natural fibers wherein said fibers are impregnated during their continuous travel with a heat-reactive material whereafter said fibers are twisted and passed through a zone of relatively high temperature for rapid removal of the excess particles of said material, the fibers thereafter passing through a zone of relatively lower temperature while in said twisted state to permanently set the twisted fibers in a twisted or deformed configuration.

Other objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a multistation apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the false twist spindle and showing the lint removal means therefor; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the heater of the present invention taken along lines IVIV of FIG. 1.

Briefly, the preferred apparatus for carryingout the present invention comprises a multistation machine, each station including a separate yarn supply, afurnishing roll, a bath into which the yarn is immersed, spaced tension devices for applying a preselected tension to the yarn after immersion, a two-stage heating zone and a false twist spindle for the tensioned yarn intermediate the spaced tension'devices, feed rolls and a take-up. The yarn supplies are disposed in rows along the apparatus, and the drives for the respective furnishing rolls, false twist spindles and the take-ups are coordinated by conventional drive means (not shown) to correlate the linear speed of travel of the yarn with the rotational speed of the false twist spindle to insert the desired twist into the yarn. The heated zones are likewise correlated to the linear travel of the yarn to supply sufficient heat thereto United States Patent 0 3,257,7% Patented June 28, 1966 at a first zone to vaporize or burn off any excess of material received by the yarn from the bath and, similarly, to supply sufiicient heat at a second zone to effect yarn setting in a twisted state. The present invention has particular utility in practicing the methods disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application of Fred B. Shippee, et al., Serial No. 320,030, filed October 30, 1963.

Referring now to the drawing the apparatus is supported on a framework extending upwardly from a base 10 resting on the floor. An upright standard 12 is affixed at its lower end in base 10, this standard serving as mount for certain of the instrumentalities of the present invention. It will, of course, be appreciated that standards of the type depicted herein will be positioned at spaced intervals along the machine, each standard being arranged in a base similar to base 10. These additional standards act as further supporting members for the multistation machine. T he central region of standard 12 has a horizontal bracket 13 clamped thereto. Further, the upper end of standard 12 has another relatively heavy horizontal bracket 14 affixed thereto. Bracket 14, in turn, supports a yarn creel constituted as an upright rod 16 having spaced apart horizontally extending bars 18 and 20, which run lengthwise'of the machine, attached thereto. Each of the bars has a plurality of spaced pins 22 attached thereto, each pin providing the support for a supply package P of natural fiber yarn Y such as cotton, linen, wool or the like. As will be observed from the drawing each of the packages P is disposed in generally a horizontal plane for over-end delivery of the yarn Y therefrom. I

Upon withdrawal from its package P each supply yarn Y is conducted through a snubber-type tension device 24. This tension device is aifixed to a rigid rod 26 in a suitable notch of an upright member 28 which is carried on the outer end of an arm 29. The distal or inner end of arm 29 is firmly bracketed to rod 16. Advantageously, tension device 24 comprises a plurality of staggered fingers presenting a tortuous course to the yarn passing therethrough. Therefore, by virtue of the drag exerted by tension device 24 theyarn on package P is constrained from inadvertent removal as might otherwise occur, for example, by the inherent weight of the yarn strand suspended from the tension device.

From the tension device 24 the yarn is guided downwardly through a series of generally vertically aligned pigtail guides 30, 32 and 34 and centering guide 35 to a driven furnishing roll 36. It will be understood that, while a separate furnishing roll is provided for each strand of yarn, the furnishing rolls for an entire side of the machine may be ganged for rotation on a common shaft 38 which extends the full length of the machine. Shaft 33 is journalled for rotation in bearings generally indicated at 40 suitably supported from standard 12. As earlier indicated, shaft 38 is rotated from a common power source not herein illustrated but which, for example, may be an electric motor, thereby serving to rotate' the furnishing rolls mounted thereon. Desirably each furnishing roll is provided with an annulus 36' of frictional material, such as rubber, against which the yarn is caused to bear. Furnishing roll 36 is operated at a constant speed and acts to assist in presenting the yarn downstream, that is to say, beyond the furnishing roll in a condition of little or no tension in the yarn. Thus, as long as the yarn flows past the furnishing roll 36 with no tension therein the roll plays only a very small role in furnishing the yarn therebeyond. However, in the event tension in the yarn increases, this condition causes the yarn to be drawn increasingly tighter onto the furnishing roll whereupon this roll is operative to advance the yarn. Obviously, furnishing roll 36 is rotated at a surface speed in excess of the normal rate of flow of the yarn therepast so that it can, in effect, overfeed the yarn beyond said furnishing roll in a substantially relaxed state. Centering guide 35 serves to conduct the yarn onto the annulus of the furnishing roll.

As is readily apparent in FIG. 2 the yarn is directed from guide 32 to annulus 36' of furnishing roll 36, the

yarn being wrapped around the furnishing roll annulus for a proximately 180 of contact whereafter the yarn is directed away from the furnishing roll over a hook-like guide 42 and into a bath of treating materials 43 contained within an elongated trough 44. The composition of said bath 43 is fully described in the previously cited patent application. In order that the yarn may be thoroughly immersed in the bath a double U-shaped yarn guide 46 is arranged to rest on the bottom of trough 44. Guide 46 is rotatable about a pin at 48 which is attached to one side of trough 44. The yarn is directed through loops at the opposite upright legs of yarn guide 46 by means of which the yarn is caused to pass in a path traversing substantially the width of the trough below the normal level of the bath to insure immersion of the strand and consequential impregnation thereof with the treating materials. In view of the pivot arrangement of yarn guide 46 on pin 48 this yarn guide may be rocked as by means of its handle portion 46 clockwise, see FIG. 1, out of the bath and thereupon re-entered into the bottom of trough 44. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when threading up the machine. Further, it has been found desirable to maintain the yarn out of the bath 43 when starting the machine while the first few feet of yarn are run through the machine and until the machine attains its optimum operating speed. In this manner the materials of bath 43 are not unduly splashed about the machine. Once the machine attains its operating speed yarn guide 46 can be readily rocked into bath 43 to guide the yarn thereafter processed through said bath.

After impregnation in trough 44 the yarn is passed through an adjustable tension 50 of any well known type capable of imparting a predetermined amount of tension uniformly to the yarn, aflixed on the upper surface of a forwardly inclined flat plate or panel 52 running lengthwise of the machine. The inner end of this panel is folded to form an elongated basin-like receptacle at 54, the function of which is to capture the excess treating material expelled from the yarn as it passes along its upcentralize the yarn path of yarn Y through said tension.

From tension the yarn advances through pigtail guide 56 and a bottom guide 58 to be thereby directed upwardly through a radiant-type electrical heater 60. Bottom guide 58 is in vertical alignment with the yarn receiving portion of heater 60 and arranged upwardly of and in alignment with trough 54. Thus, as bottom guide wipes some of the residual treating materials off of yarn Y, this residue is caught in receptacle 54.

Heater 60 includes a tube 62 having a narrow longitudinal slot extending along the full length of the tube for the reception of a strand of yarn. The lower section of tube 62 is heated by a heating plate 63 of a well known type. The upper section of tube 62 is heated by a similar but independent heating plate 64. A thick wall of thermal insulation 66 such as fiber glass or the like is employed to encase substantially all of the heating plates 63 and 64, the forward portions of the two heating plates, of course, being in contact with tube 62. Electrical heating elements 67 and 68 which are energized by electrical conductors (not shown) are connected to heater plates 63, 64 and are covered by insulation 66 and are connected to a source of electric current. As is apparent in FIG. 1 heating elements 67 provide the heat source for plate 63 and, similarly, heating elements 68 heat plate 64.

Viewing FIG. 1 it will be seen that heating plate 63 contacts but a minor portion of the length of tube 62 at the lower region thereof, the major, upper part of the tube being heated by heating plate 64. The lower section of tube 62 is heated to a temperature in the order of approximately 500 F. to about 900 F. by heating plate 63 depending on the type of yarn being processed, the amount of treating material impregnated into the yarn, and the additional consideration of the speed at which the yarn is being advanced through the apparatus. The upper part of tube 62 is similarly heated by heating plate 64 to a temperature of between 450 F. and 700 F. Again, here, the particular temperature required within the stated range will depend on the type of yarn being processed correlated with its rate of advancement, the heavy count yarns requiring proportionately more heat than yarns of correspondingly lighter counts. Moreover, it will also be appreciated that temperatures must be increased in the heating zone as the rate of yarn advancement through the apparatus is increased. Separate heating plates 63, 64 are employed because it has been found that the lower portionof tube 62 must be heated to a temperature sufficiently high to vaporize or burn off any excess of the treating materials which may be discharged from the yarn by centrifugal force. If this is not done, the excess of treating material discharged from the yarn soon builds up on the interior surface of tube 62 to the extent that practical operating efficiency of the apparatus is substantially reduced. The upper portion of tube 62 serves as a heating zone to effect the chemical reactions between the molecules of the yarn and the treating solution as described in the prior mentioned U.S. patent application 320,030.

Spaced upwardly from heater 60 is a yarn guide 69 attached to the top of the heating device and serving to direct the yarn leaving the heating device to a false twist spindle 70 of the high speed type capable of operating with speeds up to 180,000 rpm. The false twist spindle may be of the conventional type well known in the art employing an endless driving belt 72, hearing against the blade 76 of the spindle and thereby driving it. The driving belt is guided by spaced pulleys, one of which is shown at 74. The spindle is supported on a swing arm 78 so that the spindle may be swung from the operative position against belt 72 as shown in FIG. 1 to an inoperative position rocked away from the driving belt. The details of a characteristic false twist spindle of the type employed herein are set forth in U.S. Patent 3,044,247 to Richard G. Hilbert.

From the false twist spindle the yarn passes through a centering eye 79 afiixed to false twist spindle swing 78 which holds spindle 76, the yarn thereafter moving between the top feed rolls which are constituted as an elongated rather large diameter shaft 80 of non-corrosive metal, driven from a power source such as the electric motor earlier alluded to for driving the furnishing roll mounted at one end of the apparatus, but not illustrated herein, and a mating resilient roller 80'. As seen in FIG. 1 the resilient roller 80' is rotatably supported on a heavy, rigid arm 82 mounted in position on a rod 84, the resilient roller bearing on companion shaft 80 under the weight of arm 82 so that the portion of the roller which is in contact with the shaft 80 is pressed tightly and steadily thereagainst to actually wrap itself partially around the periphery of the roller and thereby afford an area contact between these two elements comprising the feed rolls.

From the feed rolls 80, 80 the yarn Y is guided by guide 81 to the respective take-up rolls and 92 for the left and right hand yarns of the particular processing station. Guide 81 also serves to maintain the yarn on the feed rolls during starting of the machine. In accordance with the present invention, the take-up rolls are positioned in front of the machine respectively above and below top feed rolls 80, 80' thereby avoiding inter ference of the operation of one take-up by the other.

A guide rod 94 is positioned upstream of each of the take-up rolls 90, 92. The yarn runs against and is guided by said guide rods 94 in its passage to the respective take-up rolls. A reciprocating traverse guide 96 affixed on an elongated traverse bar 98 engages the yarn passing over the guide rod 94 to position it on one of the respective take-up rolls 90 and 92 so as to provide a level wind thereon. The traverse bar 98 may be moved to and fro by any conventional means such as .a traversing cam not illustrated herein. The takeaup rolls 90, 92 are driven by surface contact from drive rolls 102, 103, respectively. In turn, drive rolls 102, 103 are secured on rotatable shafts 104, 105, respectively, connected to a power source as, for example, the common electric motor earlier mentioned but not illustrated to rotate said shaft.

Take-up rolls 90, 92 are supported for rockable movement through a limited are, respectively, on rigid arms 106 and 107. In turn arm 106 is rotatably supported on one end of a shaft 108, and, similarly arm 107 is carried on shaft 109. This movement permits ready doffing and donning of packages on the take-ups as well as to afford movement of the packages as they increase in diameter. The opposing ends of the shaft 100 are secured in a bracket 110 extending forwardly for this purpose from its anchoring point on standard 12. A similar bracket 111 is provided for mounting haft 109. Handles 112 and 113 are provided for rocking arms 106,

107, respectively and, therefore the associated take-uproll away from drive rolls 102, 103. A segment 114 fixed to shaft 108 provides a guide and stop means for the motion of arm 106.

It has already been discussed that the warn is passed through a bath of treating materials which impregnate the yarn, after which the yarn is introduced to a heated zone. It will be rather apparent that as the impregnated yarn is heated by heater 60, fumes will be generated from the vaporization of treating materials on the yarn. One

feature of the instant invention provides for the removal of these fumes from the zone of the machine rather than permitting the fumes to circulate into the ambient air about said machine. Thus, a pair of spaced, parallel ducts, 122 and 124 are connected to the bracket 13 and a web 14' depending from bracket 14 of the machine. Said ducts 122, 124 extend the full length of the machine and are joined with a suitable suction source (not illustrated herein). As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 duct 124 lies in a plane below duct 122. Said duct 124 is formed as an inverted U-shaped member having its normally open bottom wall enclosed by a plate 128. This plate, in turn, has a series of apertures 130 therethrough along the medial line thereof. As seen in FIG. 1, these holes open outwardly toward the top of heater 60. In order that a single suction source may be employed for both the ducts 122 and 124 these ducts are connected together through a series of tubes 131. A bafiie 132 extends forwardly over the major width of heating device 60. This baffle 132 projects rearwardly on a slight upward incline, see FIG. 1, and is connected at its rearward longitudinal edge to the forward edge of slot 126. In this fashion fumes which float upwardly from heater device 60 are directed to suction duct 124 to be sucked inwardly and vented off through said duct.

The opposing duct 122 is disposed rearwardly of and in horizontal alignment with the upper section of false twist spindle 70. This duct has a plurality of windows or ports 134 spaced therealong, see FIG. 3, and each of said ports being aligned with a respective spindle. An elongated flexible belt 136, of plastic or the like, is positioned in opposed track 137, 138 to lay closely against the wall of ducts 122 having the aforementioned ports 134. Belt 136 is engaged on pulleys (not illustrated) at each end of the machine, at least one of these pulleys being suitably driven to move the belt longitudinally of duct 122. Said belt 136 has one or more openings through its side as at 140 of generally the same area as ports 134 and arranged to move into register with these ports as belt 136 is moved along the length of the duct. Thus, intermittently, that is, when a port 134 and an opening 140 are in register, a suction is created in the zone of the head of spindle 70 to clear away lint, fly and other particles which may be undesirably deposited about the spindle as the cellulosic fiber yarn is twisted.

To the end that the lint and similar deposits may be prevented from flying about the machine as false twist spindle 70 ,is operated and yarn is pulled therethrough, a cage or hood 142 encloses the major portion of the head of spindle 70. Accordingly, a square frame 144 is bolted to track 137 and depends therefrom. This frame, which is generally box-like, is open at its front and rear walls to provide an opening corresponding generally to that size of ports 134. The inner side of each frame 144 terminates close to belt 136 and framing port 134. The opposing side of said frame has a semicircular screen 146 hinged thereon, this screen having upper and lower wall segments. The upper wall of this screen has an aperture therethrough which, when the screen is closed against frame 144, aligns with the threadline through spindle 70 to permit vertical movement of the yarn from said spindle. A spring 148 may be employed to bias screen 146 to a normally closed position against frame 144. As a result of hood 142 enclosing spindle i0, lint, dust and the like thrown by the yarn is trapped and held to be subsequently sucked into duct 122 as opening 140 of belt passes thereby.

The mode of operation of the present invention will be more or less apparent from the foregoing description. Therefore, in summary, the yarn is drawn off of package P by feed rolls 80, 80 and guided down to furnishing roll 36 as already described. Furnishing roll 36 assists in overfeeding the yarn to the bath in trough 44, that is to say, the yarn is advanced from the furnishing roll to the bath in a relaxed state under minimum tension. Thereby, the relaxed yarn is free to pick up the maximum amount of treating materials. In consequence thereof, the yarn is thoroughly impregnated with the treating material. In this condition the yarn is passed through gate tension where some of the treating solution is pressed out of the yarn to flow along panel 52 back into the bath. Additionally, tension 50 establishes a predetermined tension in the yarn in the zone between said tension and spindle so that, as the yarn is twisted by false twist spindle 70, and the twist runs back along the strand through the zone of heating device 60, the yarn will be uniformly twisted at a desired uniform tension. It will, of course, be appreciated that the movement of the yarn is continuous and that the yarn moves at a constant selected linear speed from the supply package P to said feed rolls 80, under the influence of top feed rools 80, 80'. Thus, the yarn is passed from tension 50 to the bottom guide 58, through tube 62, through guide 69 to spindle 70. Guides 58 and 69 serve advantageously to direct the yarn generally centrally through tube 62 whereby the yarn is exposed to radiant heat. By virtue of the action of guides 58, 69 the yarn is prevented from contacting the interior walls of tube 62. As the yarn is passed from spindle 70 it is engaged by top feed rolls 80, 80 and it is thereafter guided to take-up or 92 as the case may be. The take-up rolls 90, 92 are driven at a somewhat slower speed than top feed rolls 80, 80' whereby the yarn is collected onto the take-up packages under somewhat more relaxed condition than it is under in the heated zone. The precise tension conditions for take-up are determined by the desired density conditions of the ultimate yarn package to be wound on the take-up.

It is to be observed that, in accordance with the instant invention, the take-ups 90 and 92 are placed at substantially equal distances from top feed rolls 80, 80. This arrangement insures that the span of yarn passing to either of the respective take-ups is subjected to the same fan angle during traverse and-to the same freedom of relaxation.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides apparatus for producing at high spindle speeds, commercially acceptable natural fiber yarns of the textured types which have a permanent set in which the yarn has a permanent inherent tendency to assume a formation conforming to the configuration of the permanent set of the fibers. Moreover, the present invention achieves the production of these natural fiber yarns as a continuous operation without the necessity for interrupting the travelling yarn. Indeed, it has been found possible to process natural fiber yarns as contemplated by the present invention at rates of approximately 100 yards per minute. The apparatus of the present invention, while being of the high speed type, is also quite convenient for the operators of the apparatus and enable the operators to reduce downtime to a minimum due to advantageous arrangement of elements.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising, a support for a supply of yarn, means for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, means for applying reactive material to said yarn, means defining a plurality of heated zones including at least a first heated zone for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto, and including at least a second heated zone for reacting said reactive material, means for twisting said yarn before passage thereof through said first heated zone and untwisting the yarn after removal from said second heated zone, and tension means operable to hold the yarn under uniform tension during passage through said first and second heated zones.

2. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising, a support for a supply of yarn, means for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, means for applying a reactive material to said yarn advancing from said supply, means defining a first elongated restricted heated zone and a second elongated restricted heated zone, a jacket of thermal insulation substantially enclosing said first and second heated zones, electrical heating elements for heating said first and second heated zones to a prescribed temperature above ambient temperature,

said first heated zone being heated to a prescribed temperature for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto, said second heated zone being heated to a prescribed temperature to react said reactive material, means for twisting said yarn before the yarn is passed through said first heated zone and untwisting said yarn after removal from said second heated zone, and tension means operable to hold the yarn under uniform tension during passage through said first and second heated zones.

3. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising, a support for a supply of yarn, means for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, means for applying reactive material to said yarn advancing from said supply, a radiant heater having a first heated zone with an elongated restricted passage arranged to receive said yarn for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto, a second heated zone with an elongated restricted passage arranged to receive said yarn for reacting said reactive material, a jacket of thermal insulation substantially enclosing said first and second heated zones, electrical heating elements for heating said first and second heated zones to a specified temperature above ambient temperature, means for twisting the yarn before said yarn is passed through said heater passages and untwisting the yarn after removal therefrom, and tension means operable to hold the .yarn under uniform tension during movement thereof through said heater passages.

4. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising, a support for a supply of yarn, means for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, means for applying a reactive material to the yarn advancing from said supply, means defining a first elongated restricted heated Zone for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto and a second elongated restricted heated zone for reacting said reactive material, a jacket of thermal insulation substantially enclosing said first and second heated zones, electrical heating elements for heating said first and second heated zones to a prescribed temperature above ambient temperature, a false twist spindle for twisting the yarn before passage thereof through said first heated zone and untwisting the yarn after removal from said second heated zone, and tension means operable to hold the yarn under uniform tension during passage through said first and second heated zones.

5. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising, a support for a supply of yarn, means for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, means for applying reactive material to said yarn advancing from said supply, means defining a first elongated restricted heated zone for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto and a second elongated restricted heated zone for reacting said reactive material, a jacket of thermal insulation sub stantially enclosing said first and second heated zones, electrical heating elements for heating said first and second heated zones to a prescribed temperature above ambient temperature, a false twist spindle for twisting said yarn before passage thereof through said first heated zone and untwisting the yarn after removal thereof from said second heated zone, collecting means associated with said spindle for collecting waste products expelled from said yarn in the area of said spindle, a suction duct for cleaning said waste products from said collecting means, and tension means operable to hold the yarn under uniform tension during passage through said first and second heated zones.

6. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising, a support for a supply of yarn, means for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, means for applying a reactive material to said yarn advancing from said supply, a furnishing roll arranged to augment the movement of said yarn to said means for applying the reactive material to present the yarn thereto in a condition of substantially zero tension, means defining a first elongated restricted heated zone for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto and a second elongated restricted heated zone for reacting said reactive material, a jacket of thermal insulation substantially enclosing said first and second heated zones, electrical heating elements for heating said first and second heated zones to a prescribed temperature above ambient temperature, means for twisting the yarn before passage thereof through said first heated zone and untwisting the yarn after removal thereof from said second heated zone, and tension means operable to hold the yarn under uniform tension during passage through said first and second heated zones.

7. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising, a support for a supply of yarn, means for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, means for applying reactive material to said yarn advancing from said supply, means defining a first elongated restricted heated zone for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto and a second elongated restricted heated zone for reacting said reactive material, a jacket of thermal insulation substantially enclosing said first and second heated zones, electrical heating elements for heating said first and second heated zones to a prescribed temperature above ambient temperature, means for twisting the yarn before passage thereof through said first heated zone and untwisting the yarn after removal thereof from said second heated zone, a baffle associated with said first and second heated zones for receiving fumes emitted as said yarn with reactive material thereon is passed through said heated zones, a suction unit for receiving said fumes from said bafile, and tension means operable to hold the yarn under uniform tension during passage through said first and second heated zones.

8. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising a frame structure, a support for a supply of yarn to be processed mounted at the upper part of said frame structure, means i for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, a trough of reactive material disposed below said yarn supply, means for guiding said yarn through said trough during passage of the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, an electrically energized heater defining a first elongated restricted heated zone and a second elongated restricted heated zone, a jacket of thermal insulation substantially enclosing said first and second heated zones, electrical heating elements for heating said first and second heated zones to a temperature above ambient temperature, said first heated zone being heated to a prescribed temperature for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto, said second heated zone being heated to a prescribed temperature to react said reactive material, means for guiding said yarn through said heater, a false twist spindle mounted on said frame above said heater in alignment with said second heated zone to twist the yarn before the yarn is passed through said first heated zone and to untwist the yarn after removal from said second heated zone, means for driving said spindle at a predetermined speed, and a tension device operable to hold the yarn under uniform tensionduring passage through said first and second heated zones.

9. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising a frame structure, a support for a supply of yarn to be processed mounted at the upper part of said frame structure, feed rolls for advancing the yarn from said supply to said feed rolls, a trough of reactive material disposed below said yarn supply, means for guiding the yarn through said trough during passage of the yarn from said supply to said feed rolls, an electrically energized heater defining a first elongated restricted heated zone and a second elongated restricted heated zone, a jacket of thermal insulation substantially enclosing said first and second heated zones, electrical heating elements for heating said first and second heated zones to a temperature above ambient temperature, said first heated zone being heated to a prescribed temperature for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto, said second heated zone being heated to a prescribed temperature to react said reactive material, means for guiding said yarn through said heater, a false twist spindle mounted on said frame above said heater in alignment with said second heated zone to twist the yarn before the yarn is passed through said first heated zone and to untwist the yarn after removal from said second heated zone, means for driving said spindle at a predetermined speed, a tension device operable to hold the yarn under uniform tension during passage thereof through said first and second heated zones, and a take-up for collecting the yarn delivered from said feed rolls.

10. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising a frame structure, a support for a supply of yarn to be processed mounted at the upper part of said frame, means for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, a trough of reactive material disposed below said yarn supply, means for guiding said yarn through said trough during passage of the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, an electrically energized heater defining a first elongated restricted heated zone and a second elongated restricted heated zone, a jacket of thermal insulation substantially enclosing said first and second heated zones, electrical heating elements for heating said first and second heated zones to a temperature above ambient temperature, said first heated zone being heated to a prescribed temperature for eliminating excess reactive material on said yarn after said reactive material has been applied thereto, said second heated zone being heated to a prescribed temperature to react said reactive material, means for guiding the yarn through said heater, a false twist spindle mounted on said frame in alignment with said second heated zone to twist the yarn before the yarn is passed through said first heated zone and to untwist the yarn after removal from said second heated zone, means for driving said spindle at a predetermined speed, collecting means associated with said spindle for collecting waste products expelled from said yarn in the area of said spindle, a suction duct for cleaning said waste products from said collecting means, a bafile associated with said heater for receiving fumes emitted as said yarn with reactive material thereon is passed through said heated zone, said baffle being operative to conduct said fumes to said suction duct for removal, and a tension devfce operable to hold said yarn under uniform tension during passage thereof through said first and second heated zones.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including a plurality of spindles arranged in a straight row, said suction duct extending along the length of said row of spindles and having a plurality of ports therein, one each of said ports being proximate to each said spindle, a movable belt having at least one window therein located between sa'd ports and said spindles, means guiding said belt in a path wherein said window periodically moves adjacent to each said spindle, said collecting means including a plurality of frames fixed to said guiding means, each said frame having an opening proximate to each said spindle and communicable with each said port, and a plurality of screen enclosures, one each of said screen enclosures partially enclosing a related one of said spindles.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including a plurality of spindles arranged in a straight row, said suction duct extending along the length of said row of spindles and having a plurality of ports therein, on each of said ports being proximate to each said spindle, a movable belt having at least one window therein located between said ports and said spindles, means guiding said belt in a path wherein said window periodically moves adjacent to each said spindle, said collecting means including a plurality of frames fixed to said guiding means, each said frame having an opening proximate to each said spindle and communicable with each said port, and a plurality of screen enclosures, one each of said screen enclosures partially enclosing a related one of said spindles.

13. Apparatus for processing yarn comprising, a support for a supply of yarn, means for advancing the yarn from said supply through said apparatus, means for applying reactive material to said yarn advancing from said supply, means heating the yarn for reacting said reactive material, a plurality of false twist spindles for twisting said yarn before passage thereof through said heating means and untwisting the yarn after removal thereof from said heating means, said spindles arranged in a straight row, tension means operable to hold the yarn under uniform tension during passage through said heating means, collecting means associated with ach of said spindles for collecting waste products expelled from said yarn in the area of each of said spindles, a suction duct for cleaning said waste products from said collecting means, said duct extending along the length of said row of spindles and having a plurality of ports therein, one each of said ports being proximate to each of said spindles, a movable belt having at least one window therein located between said ports and said spindles, means guiding said belt in a path wherein said window periodically moves adjacent to each of said spindles, said collecting means including a plurality of frames fixed to said guiding means, each of said frames having an opening proximate to each of said spindles and communicable with each of said ports,

4 and a'plurality of screen enclosures, one each of said screen enclosures partially enclosing a related one of said spindles.

14. An apparatus for processing yarn includIng a plurality of false twist spindles arranged in a straight row, collecting means associated with each of said spindles for collecting waste products expelled from said yarn in the area of each of said spindles, a suction duct for cleaning said waste products from said collecting means, said duct extending along the length of said row of spindles and having a plurality of ports therein, one each of said ports being proximate to each of said spindles, a movable belt having at least one window therein located between said ports and said spindles, means guiding said belt in a path wherein said window periodically moves adjacent to each of said spindles, said collecting means including a plurality of frames fixed to said guiding means, each of said frames having an opening proximate to each of said spindles and communicable with each of said ports, and a plurality of screen enclosures, one each of said screenenclosures partially enclosing a related one of said spindles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

20 D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING YARN COMPRISING, A SUPPORT FOR A SUPPLY OF YARN, MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE YARN FROM SAID SUPPLY THROUGH SAID APPARATUS, MEANS FOR APPLYING REACTIVE MATERIAL TO SAID YARN, MEANS DEFINING A PLURALITY OF HEATED ZONES INCLUDING AT LEAST A FIRST HEATED ZONE FOR ELIMINATING EXCESS REACTIVE MATERIAL ON SAID YARN AFTER SAID REACTIVE MATERIAL HAS BEEN APPLIED THERETO, AND INCLUDING AT LEAST A SECOND HEATED ZONE FOR REACTING SAID REACTIVE MATERIAL, MEANS FOR TWISTING SAID YARN BEFORE PASSAGE THEREOF THROUGH SAID FIRST HEATED ZONE AND UNTWISTING THE YARN AFTER REMOVAL FROM SAID SECOND HEATED ZONE, AND TENSION MEANS OPERABLE TO HOLD THE YARN UNDER UNIFORM TENSION DURING PASSAGE THROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND HEATED ZONES. 